At a press conference on Friday morning where political, civic and religious leaders called on Amtrak to obey a 2014 law and rename its 30th Street station after former U.S. Congressman William B. Gray, who later in life served as the CEO of the United Negro College Fund, speakers did more than tap-dance around the issue of race, they ignored it.
As noted by W. Curtis Thompson, a State Representative from North Philadelphia who was among the suited speakers, Amtrak has obliged a train station’s name changing before: New York’s Penn. Station, for example, was not long ago expanded and rebranded as the Moynihan Station, to honor the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a white man.
But Amtrak in three years has not taken action on the bill signed by President Barack Obama, legislation which Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey on Friday held up and read aloud.
“The railroad station located at 2955 Market Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, commonly known as 30th Street Station, shall be known and designated as the William H. Gray 30th Street Station,” Senator Casey quoted the bill as stating. “This should’ve been done a long time ago,” he opined seconds later.
So why is Amtrak breaking the law, and who are they held accountable to? When I asked of Senator Casey what role the Department of Justice can, and should, play in this matter, he was unclear.
“I don’t profess to know the Justice Department’s authority here,” the Senator admitted.
Minister Rodney Muhammad, the President of the NAACP’s Philadelphia chapter, said no matter the DOJ’s authority, they should be involved. And as to whether this is a racial issue, the minister, who wasn’t listed as a speaker, said Amtrak is making it one.
By Amtrak resisting the law, and providing no sound reason as to why, “they’re forcing us to look at race,” the minister said after the press conference.
Mr. Muhammad told Techbook Online exclusively that the NAACP “will end up calling for a boycott.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, in response to Mr. Muhammad’s forthcoming action, said “boycotts have helped.” He later added: “maybe a little protest around the building could help also.”
When asked if he thought it was about race, the Mayor said “I’m hoping it’s not.”
Senator Casey said he plans to meet with Amtrak in the coming weeks and attempt to move things forward. Before being escorted away, the Senator griped to me: “there’s no excuse for this.”
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Photo courtesy of the author.